Best Of The Summer 2013

 

 

Thanks to all my clients past and present for their loyalty and continued business, and for making it a great Summer.

Adorable Bear Cubs in Yosemite

How lucky were these tourists to see these playful bear cubs in person.

Good thing mama bear stayed cool.

9706 Kirkside in Escrow (Short Sale)

9706 Kirkside Road, Beverlywood

Visit: http://9706kirksideroad.com

Short sales can take a long time. Fortunately, I was able to find solid, patient buyers who were willing to endure the lengthy, and sometimes frustrating short sale process. In the end this home will go to a good family who will cherish this property. The seller will benefit from getting out from "underwater". Stay tuned for final sales price.

New Listing - Two Story, 2 bedrooms in Prime Silver Lake

Terrific Silver Lake starter home. This classic two-story, 2 bedroom 2 bath home awaits your decorator’s touch. Formal living room and dining room, with original 1921 built-in, a floral-covered pergola and patio, and lovely landscaped yard highlight this home. Elevated above the street on a street-to-street lot. Located in the heart of Silver Lake, close to all that this exciting neighborhood has to offer. Property is commercially zoned (buyer to investigate). For more photos and a downloadable flyer Visit: www.1108westerlyterrace.com
Listed for $499,000

New Listing – 9706 Kirkside Road, Beverlywood

Unmatched value in prime Beverlywood. Short sale. Warm and inviting 5 bedroom with Den, 2.75 bath traditional. Property features 2 fireplaces, eat-in kitchen, private backyard, brick patio, 2-car garage on a lovely Cul-de-sac street. Lots of storage space in large attic. Room for growing or large family. Fantastic opportunity in a terrific location. Short sale negotiator in place.
Visit http://9706kirksideroad.com to see more photos and download a flyer
Listed for $1,150,000

Stunning New Listing – Blocks From Beverly Hills

1240 S. Corning Street #306

Los Angeles, CA 90035

A breathtakingly remodeled two bedroom, two bath condo centrally located just blocks from Beverly Hills. This top floor unit has been completely rehabbed with remarkable attention to detail. A light-filled living room with soaring ceilings, gorgeous fireplace, and tasteful understated wet bar greet you upon entering. Rich Mahogany hardwood floors grace all of the public spaces. Updated electrical scheme with recessed lighting and high-end rheostats throughout. The master suite features spacious closets, dual sinks, dual shower heads, tub and separate shower stall. Both bathrooms have been meticulously redesigned and configured. The kitchen boasts, stainless steel appliances, lovely ceasarstone counters and custom, designer cabinets and tilework. This condo also comes with in-unit laundry featuring large capacity washer and dryer. A brand new furnace, two underground parking spaces, additional storage, low HOA fees and small community gym round out this fantastic offering. Not to be missed.
Listed for $559,000
Call Anthony Diaz-Perez for showing information (310)777-6230

How to convert a garage…

In today’s lending environment a great large number of loans are denied because of garage conversions that don’t past appraiser's muster. It used to be that no one cared whether or not a garage had been converted. It was seen as value added. But now, as banks become more conservative, underwriters are reticent to approve loans for homes where a garages may be used for other purposes. Mainly the red flag goes up when things like plumbing and kitchens are installed in garages. It makes appraisers and underwriters squeamish when additional “living space” is bootlegged into a property.

But let’s face it, here in Southern California many, many people’s cars never see the inside of their garages, and garages often become the family storage locker. Some homeowners, in an effort to create extra space, succeed in adding the much needed office, sauna, or bathroom. However, when it comes time to sell they find that the investment in their property pays no dividends. In fact, they may end up paying more by having to undo their project and restore the garage to its former state.

By contrast, some homeowners get it right. My clients Jeff and Frank who I helped purchase this gorgeous 1930 Spanish, recently completed a brilliant conversion on their detached 2-car garage. 

Frank is a Pilates instructor and massage therapist. It has been his dream to have an in home studio where he can teach, workout with Jeff, and treat clients. They called me a few months after moving in and asked my opinion on how they could convert the space while not jeopardizing a possible future sale.

What I basically told them was: to make sure that whatever you do never takes away from the functionality of the space as a garage. Don’t get too ambitious and add a bathroom or anything that will make it look like living space. Leave the garage opening available. Even if you remove the garage door, do yourself a favor and make it easy to pop a garage door back on when it comes time to sell.

Granted, I don’t think they will be moving from this great home anytime soon, but they have certainly avoided any future headaches.

Here is the how the garage looked when they purchased the house:

Inside, they installed drywall and enclosed an area that still serves as storage for yard and garden tools,

and hid it behind a mirrored wall.

And in what I think is a great choice, they hung the ceiling leaving a portion of the support beams exposed instead of covering the entire ceiling with sheetrock.

They added handsome sconces on the walls by Troy Lighting. On the floors they laid a rubber gym surface that comes in four foot rolls, made by RB Rubber from Linoleum City. It’s a great surface for their Pilates equipment.

Frank and Jeff removed the old solid wood door and replaced it with Marvin glass sliders from Benchmark in Culver City. The wood accents around the doorway are Oak with Mexican-style “clavos” for effect. They “hatchet-distressed” the fir lintel beam to give it some age. The lantern above the door is made by Artistic Lighting and Designs. All lighting was purchased through Capital Lighting and Wholesale Supply in Culver City.


They now have a terrific Pilates/massage studio/home gym. It is still essentially their garage, but as you can see it’s a hell of a lot more.